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Diamondbacks Minor-League Round-up, 6/2: May honors announced

The Arizona Diamondbacks named Triple-A Reno infielder/outfielder Nick Evans and Double-A Mobile right-handed pitcher Aaron Blair the organization’s Minor League Player- and Pitcher-of-the-Month for May.

Nick Evans was our minor-league hitter of the month
Nick Evans was our minor-league hitter of the month
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Evans, 29, reached base via hit or walk in 22 of 28 games in May and hit .343 (36-for-105) with 11 doubles, 5 home runs, 31 RBI,.400 on-base and .590 slugging percentages, and a .990 OPS.

  • In 13 home games, he hit .320 (16-for-50) with 5 doubles, 2 homers and 17 RBI.
  • In 15 road games, he hit .364 (20-for-55) with 6 doubles, 3 homers and 14 RBI.
  • Pacific Coast League Player of the Week for May 18-25 after hitting .452 (14-for-31) with 3 doubles, 3 home runs and 14 RBI in 7 games.
  • Among all Triple-A players, he ranked tied for first in doubles (11), tied for second in RBI (31) and extra-base hits (16), tied for fourth in total bases (62), tied for sixth in hits (36), seventh in slugging percentage (.590) and ninth in OPS (.990).

Blair, who turned 23 on May 26, went 3-1 with a 0.89 ERA (7 R-4 ER in 40.2 IP) and a .197 opponents average (28-for-142) with 6 walks and 33 strikeouts in 6 starts in May.

  • He has not allowed an earned run in his last 3 games (3 R-0 ER in 20.2 IP) with 12 hits, 2 walks and 19 strikeouts.
  • In 3 home games, he went 2-0 with a 0.87 ERA (5 R-2 ER in 20.2 IP), .228 average (18-for-79), 2 walks and 18 strikeouts.
  • In 3 road games, he held opponents to 2 runs in 20.0 innings (0.90 ERA) with a .159 average (10-for-63) with 4 walks and 15 strikeouts.
  • Among all Minor League pitchers in May, he ranked sixth in innings (40.2) and seventh in ERA (0.89).

Every month during the season, the D-backs Player Development staff chooses the player and pitcher most deserving of the honors based on nominations from coaches at each affiliate along with input from the Minor League coordinators. Below is a list of the overall winners as well as player nominated by each affiliate:

MAY OVERALL RENO MOBILE VISALIA KANE COUNTY EXTENDED
PLAYER Nick Evans Nick Evans Brandon Drury Daniel Palka Marty Herum Didimo Bracho
PITCHER Aaron Blair Kevin Munson Aaron Blair Nick Sarianides Markus Solbach Tyler Bolton

Snake Stars
3 stars
: Parker Frazier, Reno - 7 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO
2 stars: Melvin Ovalles, DSL - 5 IP, 4 H., 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
1 star: Danny Worth, Reno - 2 for 3, two DBL, two R, RBI, BB
0 stars: Socrates Brito, Mobile - 0-for-5, two K in double-header

Triple-A Reno 7, Round Rock 2. Parker Frazier was signed just yesterday from the independent Bridgeport Bluefish just yesterday. The former 8th-round Rockies pick in 2007. He was a reliever last year for the White Sox at AA and AAA, but you wouldn't know it from tonight's performance, as he held the Express to six hits and one run over seven innings, with three walks and three K's. There were six multi-hit performances by the Aces, with SS Danny Worth and CF Nick Buss each getting two hits, a walk and scoring twice. Buss also had an outfield assist. Jake Barrett worked the final two innings, allowing a run on two hits and a walk.

Double A Mobile 6/2, Pensacola 5/1. Aaron Blair's control in the first game of a 7-inn double-header. He walked six in five innings, but kept the Blue Wahoos off the board until a five-run sixth. He was charged with all five runs, on four walks and two K, but got the win, courtesy of a two-run homer by CF Mitch Haniger, and a grand-slam by 2B Gerson Montilla. The night-cap was a bullpen effort - David Hernandez started, working a perfect first. R.J. Hively allowed a run on three hits, but Mobile tied it up in the sixth on an RBI single by 1B Rudy Flores, then walked off a sweep on 2B Brandy Drury's hit, with one out in the bottom of the seventh.

High-A Visalia 2, Modesto 3. The Rawhide couldn't get the clutch hits when they needed them, going 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position, and that tagged Zack Godley with the loss. He pitched far from badly, allowing two earned runs (+ one unearned) in 6.1 innings, on five hits and a walk with seven strikeouts; the bullpen followed with 2.2 scoreless innings of one-hit relief. CF Breland Almadova had a pair of hits for Visalia, and RF Daniel Palka had hit, scored the only Rawhide run and drew their only walk.

A-ball Kane County OFF DAY.

DSL: D-backs 3, Reds 1. The D-backs took full advantage of sloppy opponent play: the Reds made five errors, and all three runs allowed were unearned. The D-backs got just four hits and two walks, with 2B Vicson Graciano responsible for one of each. Melvin Ovalles got the win, allowing one run on four hits over five innings, with a pair of strikeouts and no walks. There was good relief work by Nestor Ramirez, who struck out three over three scoreless innings, and Oscar Abreu picked up his first save, with a perfect ninth, giving the DSL Diamondbacks their first victory of the season.